Evaluation of the physico-mechanical and electrical properties of styrene-butadiene rubber/aluminum powder and styrene-butadiene rubber/cerium sulfate composites

Different concentrations of powdered aluminum (Al) or cerium sulfate in the range between 10 and 60 phr were incorporated into styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) matrices. The physico-mechanical and electrical properties of vulcanizates were measured and evaluated. An improvement in the mechanical properties according to increased filler loading in SBR composites was noted. This finding is reinforced by filler dispersion values (Lee equation), reinforcing index and thermal analysis. The dielectric properties, namely the relative permittivity (ε') and dielectric loss (ε"), were measured as function of both frequency and concentration of the SBR/filler composites. The results showed an enhancement in the dielectric and mechanical properties, especially for Al powder. This is due to the enhancement of filler-rubber interactions and the continuity of the conductive phase through the composites. The SEM micrograph showed that the filler agglomerates were dispersed within the SBR matrix.